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Robin Roberts & Sherri Shepherd Tell Story of Last Rescued 9/11 Survivor Genelle Guzman
Twenty-five years after the September 11 attacks, one of the most remarkable survival stories from that tragic day is coming to television.
Sherri Shepherd portrays Genelle Guzman, the final person rescued alive from the World Trade Center rubble, in Lifetime's new movie “Robin Roberts Presents: Angel in the Rubble: The Genelle Guzman Story.” The film premieres Saturday, Sept. 12, at 8 p.m. ET on Lifetime.
Trapped Beneath the World Trade Center
Guzman was a New York City transit worker who was inside the North Tower when the attacks unfolded on Sept. 11, 2001.
After the building collapsed, she became trapped beneath the enormous amount of concrete and debris. Guzman remained buried for approximately 27 hours before rescuers finally found her and pulled her to safety.
She became the last known survivor rescued alive from the World Trade Center site.
The Stranger She Believes Was an Angel
While trapped beneath the rubble, Guzman has recalled encountering a mysterious man named Paul who stayed with her and reassured her that rescuers were coming.
After she was rescued, Guzman tried to find the man so she could thank him. But no one was able to confirm his identity, leading her to believe that he may have been an angel who appeared during one of the darkest moments of her life.
That extraordinary part of her story serves as the inspiration for the film's title.
Sherri Shepherd Takes on the Role
For Shepherd, portraying Guzman was more than simply taking on a challenging acting role.
She met with Guzman to better understand the woman behind the headline and learn about her life before September 11. Shepherd said she wanted to portray not only Guzman's survival, but also her experience as a mother and the emotional weight of losing friends and coworkers.
“She was so resilient,” Shepherd told Good Housekeeping, explaining that she wanted the performance to honor Guzman's strength without losing sight of the tragedy she experienced.
A Story of Survival, Faith and Hope
Based on Guzman's memoir, Angel in the Rubble: The Miraculous Rescue of 9/11's Last Survivor, the movie follows her terrifying ordeal beneath the collapsed tower and the moments that ultimately led to her rescue.
The film also explores the faith Guzman found through the experience and the lasting impact of surviving when so many others did not.
As the 25th anniversary of September 11 is remembered across the country, Guzman's story offers a deeply personal perspective on that day — one centered not only on tragedy, but on perseverance, faith and the people who helped keep hope alive.
How to Watch
“Robin Roberts Presents: Angel in the Rubble: The Genelle Guzman Story” premieres Saturday, Sept. 12, at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on Lifetime and will stream the following day.
The 90-minute drama stars Sherri Shepherd as Genelle Guzman and Dondré T. Whitfield, with Manu Boyer directing.
For Guzman, whose survival became one of the defining stories of September 11, seeing her experience brought to the screen offers another opportunity to remember not only what was lost that day, but also the extraordinary human will to survive.
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